Jamaat-e-Islami’s sit-in on Murree Road, which lasted for 14 days, concluded after reaching an agreement with the government. Following the resolution, teams from Rawalpindi Solid Waste Management swiftly cleaned the sit-in site, and the sound system and other equipment were also removed.
The sit-in, led by Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) leader Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman, began on July 26 in Islamabad, with a significant number of party workers gathering at I-8 on the Islamabad Expressway. The protest commenced with a short address by Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman at 26 Number, where he condemned the actions of the Punjab Police for allegedly raiding the homes of JI workers in an attempt to disrupt the protest.
In his speech, Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman questioned the government’s belief that such tactics would end the sit-in. He declared that the protest was just beginning and would continue until their demands were met. He criticized the government for burdening the public with high electricity bills and the introduction of Independent Power Producers (IPPs), which he described as “power bombs” on the people.
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The JI chief emphasized that the protest was not for personal gain but for the rights of the 250 million people of Pakistan. He rallied the crowd, asking if they were prepared to extend the sit-in if necessary and warned the government to release the detained JI workers, stating that their movement was peaceful but determined.
Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman outlined the demands of the sit-in, which included the closure of IPPs and a reduction in electricity tariffs. He also announced the implementation of Plan B, indicating that the protest would move to Murree Road to demonstrate the party’s strength. He further mentioned the possibility of leading the protest to D Chowk if their demands were not addressed.
After 14 days of protest, the sit-in finally came to an end with the agreement between JI and the government, signaling a temporary resolution to the issues raised by the party.
